A public hearing on the proposed 2015 – 2016 Derby budget is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday (May 18) in Derby City Hall.
The $39 million budget features a zero percent increase in the mill rate, city officials said.
That means no tax increase, presumably good news in a city where voters approved more than $30 million in repairs to the sewer system. That vote will cause sewer bills to increase in July.
A faxed copy of the proposed budget is embedded below.
Derby Proposed Budget 2015 2016 by ValleyIndyDotOrg
Total spending is up about 2 percent in the proposed budget, or about $808,000. Most employees are seeing raises of 2 to 3 percent, but some department heads deviate from that norm.
The tax board is scheduled to give Derby Public Schools a 4.3 percent increase, with a $17,292,486 allocation slated for next year.
Derby is saving money by refinancing debt at a lower interest rate. The result is about $300,000 in savings compared to last year, City Treasurer Keith McLiverty told members of the tax board during budget meetings last month.
“The $300,000 decrease is the result of low interest rates in the current market place and the taking advantage of reduced rates in the public sector,” McLiverty said.
The budget predicts a 3.3 percent decrease in what the city pays out for employee benefits. Employee benefits are are budgeted at about $200,000 less than this year in next year’s budget.
The budget also adds a new position within the town clerk’s office, and an expanded part-time position in the building department. The mayor’s office is also creating a chief of staff position to handle economic development duties, in part.
The budget allocates an additional $300 for the Valley Arts Council. They’ve been struggling financially. In April, the council announced Eversource Energy turned off the power at the council’s Elizabeth Street gallery because they fell behind on electric payments.
At a tax board meeting last month, tax board member Judy Szewczyk suggested the city throw the arts council an additional $300 on top of the $700 the city usually allocates. Her fellow tax board members did not object.
Troop 3 Boy Scouts are also seeing a bump in funding, from $4,000 to $7,000.
The budget fully funds the Derby Police Department’s budget request of $3.6 million. That’s an increase of about 2.8 percent, tied mostly to union contracts. The tax board had considered reducing the department’s overtime budget by $10,000 at the suggestion of Mayor Anita Dugatto and tax board chairman Jim Butler, but ultimately decided not to cut it.
Here is a look at the wages for department heads on the city side of the budget.
Mayor’s Wages: $45,000 (no increase)
Town Clerk Wages: $76,895 (4.5 increase)
Treasurer’s Wages: $12,000 (no increase)
Tax Collector Wages: $64,374 (2.1 percent)
Assessor Wages: $44,363 (3.2 percent)
Police Chief Wages: $114,865 (2.2 percent)
Fire Commissioner Wages: $5,835 (no increase)
Fire Marshal Wages: $73,703 (2.25 percent increase)
Street Commish Wages: $89,109 (6.3 percent increase)
Parks Director Wages: $22,518 (2 percent increase)
Building Official Wages: $79,274 (2.25 increase)
Senior Center Executive Director: $51,064 (no increase)
The tax board will hold a second meeting Monday at the conclusion of the public hearing.
Then, on Tuesday, May 19, the tax board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. in Derby City Hall to officially adopt a budget.
